Dust Disease & Silicosis Claims NSW
Silicosis, asbestosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis — we help with NSW dust disease claims, including claims through the icare Dust Diseases Scheme.
Every appointment on this page is billed to the insurer under an accepted NSW workers compensation claim. The insurer pays the doctor, physio, psychologist or rehab provider directly, so you don't get an invoice. Our help is free.
Yes — dust disease & silicosis is a standard NSW WorkCover claim
If work caused or aggravated it, NSW workers compensation covers it. You don't need a single dramatic incident, and you don't need a pre-existing-condition-free history. Here's the short version of what that means for dust disease & silicosis.
Work caused or aggravated it
Sudden or cumulative, new or aggravated — dust disease & silicosis from work-related causes qualifies. The doctor records how it happened, so the insurer has what it needs to accept the claim.
Book a WorkCover doctorEvery appointment is paid
Doctors, physios, psychologists and rehab providers — the insurer pays them directly on your accepted claim, so you never get an invoice. Our help is free.
Learn about workcover doctorsHelp if the claim is disputed
If the insurer pushes back, we put you in touch with a compensation lawyer. Most WorkCover disputes qualify for IRO funding, which usually means the legal costs aren't yours. You don't fight the system alone.
How we help with disputesHow dust disease & silicosis happens at work
Most claims in this category come down to a handful of mechanisms. If yours fits any of these, it's almost certainly claimable — and even if it doesn't, book an assessment anyway. The list isn't exhaustive.
- Cutting, grinding or polishing engineered stone benchtops
- Construction, tunnelling and demolition dust exposure
- Mining, quarrying and stone masonry
- Historical asbestos exposure in trades and shipbuilding
- Coal handling, transport and power generation
- Long-term exposure to silica, wood or grain dust
Not sure if your cause fits? It usually does. Take the 60-second eligibility check →
When to see a WorkCover doctor
Any of these symptoms after a work-related incident or from a work-related activity means it's time to get assessed. Early assessment gives dust disease & silicosis the right start to recovery.
- Persistent cough that won't settle
- Breathlessness with exertion or at rest
- Chest tightness or chest pain
- Unexplained fatigue and weight loss
- Recurrent chest infections
- Coughing up blood or thick mucus
Don't push through. The workers who recover fastest are the ones who see a doctor in the first week.
What NSW WorkCover pays for with dust disease & silicosis
Once your claim is accepted (or under provisional liability), the insurer pays for every line below directly. You don't receive an invoice for any of it.
- Respiratory specialist consultations
- Chest imaging including high-resolution CT
- Lung function and respiratory testing
- Ongoing medical monitoring and review
- Medication, oxygen therapy and inhaled treatments
- Pulmonary rehabilitation programs
- Weekly income payments and lump-sum compensation
- Access to NSW's Dust Diseases Scheme via icare
What the NSW data says
You would not be the first person to claim for dust disease & silicosis. The national and NSW data makes that very clear.
Typical dust disease latency
Most dust diseases develop decades after the exposure that caused them. The NSW scheme recognises this long latency. Source: icare NSW Dust Diseases Scheme guidance.
NSW benefits paid last year
Total statutory benefits paid to injured NSW workers — including long-running dust disease claims. Source: icare NSW, 2023–24.
Want the full picture? See WorkCover in numbers →
How we help with dust disease & silicosis claims
One phone call is all it takes. We answer your questions, book the doctor, and line up physio, psychology, rehab or a lawyer when you need one.
Dust disease claims in NSW run on a different pathway to standard workers compensation — the icare Dust Diseases Scheme provides lifetime medical cover and lump-sum compensation for workers with diagnosed dust diseases. We help arrange the respiratory specialist assessment, and put you in touch with a compensation lawyer for the scheme application and, where relevant, claims through the NSW Dust Diseases Tribunal. Long latency means the employer may be decades in the past — we help with that too.
WorkCover Doctors
Where most workers with dust disease & silicosis start after the first doctor visit. Call us and we'll book it, in person or by telehealth.
Learn about workcover doctorsCompensation Lawyer
Lined up when your dust disease & silicosis recovery needs it. We book it, and on an accepted claim the insurer pays.
Learn about compensation lawyerRehabilitation Provider
Lined up when your dust disease & silicosis recovery needs it. We book it, and on an accepted claim the insurer pays.
Learn about rehabilitation providerWondering what weekly payments would look like? Use the Payment Calculator →
Related resources
Three starting points for digging deeper — an explainer on our blog, the eligibility quiz, and other injury types we help with.
Dust Disease & Silicosis claims — what workers ask
The same questions come up on almost every call. Here are the answers in short form.
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The frontline service for dust disease & silicosis recovery — billed to the insurer under your accepted claim.
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Injured your dust disease & silicosis? Start with one phone call.
We book same-week appointments with a WorkCover doctor, who writes your Certificate of Capacity. We sort the insurer paperwork and line up physio, psychology or a lawyer as needed.
Book a WorkCover Doctor